A police officer testified in court Thursday that a Macomb man facing charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child indicated upon his arrest that what the victim alleged was truthful.

Benjamin Jenkins, 65, formally plead not guilty Thursday to three counts of the Class X felony, which is punishable by six to 60 years in prison, for having apparently "inappropriately touched" a 5-year-old girl.

Macomb Officer Matthew Marass, who was among the officers to respond the day of the June 30 incident, spoke in McDonough County Circuit Court.

Marass explained, and reiterated during the defense's examination, that when he asked Jenkins to step out on the deck of his local residence, the 65-year-old said the young victim was "not a liar."

Jenkins and the girl had reportedly been "playing dolls and pretend" when the incident occurred. The victim was said to have later told her mother what happened.

The victim's parents and Jenkins underwent an audio-video interview. Marass testified that it was during this later interview that Jenkins further discussed the incident.

The officer first mentioned his discussion with Jenkins on the back deck during Assistant State's Attorney Justin Bougher's questioning and again after asked by Public Defender John Carter.

"I told him we wanted him to go into more detail, and that was when he was hesitant," Marass said. "He seemed uncomfortable talking at his residence."

At some point in Jenkin's second interview, Marass told the defense, that another child's name came up, but that the officer hadn't been directly involved, nor did he know where in any investigation the information was taken.

In addition to varying prison time, Jenkins is charged with multiple counts of a felony that is punishable by a maximum $25,000 fine and mandatory supervised release over a period of time ranging from three years to his natural life.

He will appear in court for another hearing in August. His plea could further him to a jury trial in the coming months.